Phd Offer

**Topic: Development of analytical methods for characterization of Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds emitted by pest infested plants.**

**Company**: Chromatotec, Val de Virvée (33240) - For more than 40 years, Chromatotec Group has designed and manufactured a full range of automatic gas and liquid chromatographs for continuous and online monitoring. These innovative analyzers are 100% made in France and allow tracking of ppt/ppb/ppm and % concentration levels.

**Academic laboratory**: CNRS and University of Strasbourg, Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES, UMR 7515).

**Goal of the project**: The main objective of the European project PurPest is to control serious plant pests during import and to manage them in the field by developing a unique concept enabling pest detection in a timely and non-invasive manner. In this project, Chromatotec will lead the design, integration and manufacturing of analytical systems that allow in-field characterization of emitted biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs).

The PhD thesis will be organized into the following tasks:
Task 1: Literature research (throughout the thesis).

Task 2: development of analytical methods with significant adaptation of instruments for BVOC analysis by means of a transportable GC-FID/MS (reference method) and a portable GC/PID, both coupled to a (micro)preconcentrator. Duration: 15-18 months.

Task 3: Validation of both methods under controlled laboratory conditions and evaluation of analytical performances. Duration: 9-12 months.

Task 4: Tests under real conditions with plants either under laboratory conditions or in crop fields in collaboration with the PurPEST project partners. Duration: 3-4 months.

Task 5: Valorization of the work: reports, publications, conferences, thesis manuscript, etc. (throughout the thesis).

This will be performed in collaboration with an academic laboratory of the University of Strasbourg. The doctoral student will share his/her time between the two sites and will also regularly present his/her work in English to members of the European project consortium.

**Supervision**: Internship will be cosupervised by Damien Bazin (Analytical Department Manager at Chromatotec) and Stéphane Le Calvé (Research Director at CNRS/University of Strasbourg).

**Material and financial conditions**:The student will benefit from all the experimental facilities available in Chromatotec company and ICPEES laboratory CNRS/university of Strasbourg. The net monthly salary is estimated at 1900 euros for three years. The costs of the missions will be covered by Chromatotec.

**Thesis registration**: University of Strasbourg - Doctoral School of Chemistry

**Salary**: 2,400.00€ per month

Work Location: In person